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Exploring Gretna Garden City

During WW1 2 new Garden Cities were built in S.W. Scotland (Gretna & Eastriggs) to provide accomodation, recreational and other facilities for the many thousands of workers, and their families, who came to work at H.M. Factory, Gretna. The factory was the world's greatest ever munitions factory (9 miles long by 2 miles wide) which at its peak of production employed over 30,000 workers, producing 1,100 tons of the new RDB cordite per week. (www.devilsporridge.org.uk) St. Andrew's Church in Gretna was one of five churches built in those new Garden Cities. The Cordite made at Gretna was essential for the army to mount the battle of the Somme a century ago. The congregation at St. Andrews are marking this by having a series of led walks around the central area of the township. During these walks the visitor will discover many fascinating facts about the town, many of which are little known even to this day. The walks will be held on Sunday Afternoons at 2.30pm from July 17th until August 28th, each lasting about 60 to 90 minutes, starting aand finishing at the church, where tea/coffee & biscuits will be available at the end. There is no charge for these walks, but donations in aid of church funds will be accepted. St. Andrews Church is located on the corner of Central Avenue and Loanwath Road. Entrance to the grass carpark is from Loanwath Road.